Good Neighbors

They say that good fences make good neighbors, and I guess that there is some truth to that.

After all, ignorance is bliss, right?  Well, I am here to say that I have some good neighbors, and it's not because of a fence.

The neighbors across the street frequently invite us to their back-yard cookouts/crawfish boils (and Saints games!); the neighbors to the south are always lending a hand when the 'jeep jaunt' rolls around; the neighbors to the north are quiet (even when we aren't), but are very friendly when we meet up in the yard; and the neighbors one over to the north allow us to use their workshop to store items we'll need for the 'jeep jaunt'.

I know that times aren't like they used to be.  When we were growing up, we didn't worry so much about locking doors, and neighbors didn't worry so much about knocking when they visited.  Today, though, we have to be more careful, less trusting, which is disheartening.  I am afraid that this new mindset has us less likely to meet our neighbors.

Here's what I plan to do this holiday season: I want to meet the neighbors I haven't met yet.  The neighbors behind us moved in just a few months ago.  The neighbors on either side of them have been there for a while, but we don't find ourselves on that street often, so we haven't met them yet.  I think I'll bake cookies and walk them over to introduce myself.

I often find myself wanting to go to far off places to meet people and do things; I am realizing I should do the same things closer to home.